Exercise can benefit heart health, but if you are a cardiac patient, you must be careful to not overdo it while you recover from a heart attack or other medical trauma. A gentle exercise routine put into place gradually can help you grow stronger and reduce your risk of recurring cardiac events. Do this under the supervision of your doctor.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is healthy for most people, including cardiac patients. Aerobic exercise such as walking, riding a bike or going up and down stairs elevates your heart rate and can strengthen the heart muscle. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains that participating in gentle aerobic exercise at least three days a week for 20 to 45 minutes is safe and healthy for most cardiac patients and is a usual part of a rehab program. Remember to warm up with slow walking or jogging before increasing speed or getting on a bike. Warming up literally raises the temperature in your muscles and readies your body for physical exertion. Moderate aerobic exercise can also help you lose weight, if needed, to reduce your health risks.

Muscle Strengthening

Rehabilitation programs for people with heart disease include muscle strengthening activities two to three times weekly to improve overall health. This type of gentle exercise routine helps you regain muscle strength needed to safely carry out activities of your everyday life. Weight-bearing exercises put your joints through their normal ranges of motion to improve flexibility and to add resistance for building muscle. Do strengthening exercises with exercise bands or light hand weights ranging from 1 to 3 pounds. One example of a gentle exercise is the seated row. Sit in a chair, holding an end of a resistance band in each hand. Firmly step on the middle of the band with your feet. Keep your arms extended at your sides. While keeping your back straight, move your elbows back. Your elbows should be bent and your hands should be at waist height during the highest point of each rowing motion. Hold your hands near your waist for a second before returning your hands to your sides. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

Yoga

Yoga can be a safe, effective and gentle exercise for cardiac patients and others who prefer to exercise with slow, flowing movements. According to "Yoga Journal," the stress reduction benefits as well as the mind-body connection of yoga make this form of exercise increasingly popular among cardiac rehab centers. Consult your rehab team to determine which poses are appropriate for your health level. Practice the slow, controlled breathing associated with yoga as a natural stress buster, which can also have a positive influence on your blood pressure and heart health.

Routine Activities

Exercise for cardiac patients doesn't have to always involve walking, weightlifting or doing yoga. You may incorporate into your daily routine easy, low impact activities that are good for your cardiac health. As long as your medical care team deems you healthy enough, take the stairs at work instead of the elevator to squeeze in extra steps and aerobic activity into your day. Park at the far end of the parking lot instead of right outside the building entrance. Perform light household tasks such as sweeping, washing dishes or weeding the garden. Be mindful of your status as a cardiac patient, however, and slow down if you develop pain or become short of breath.